Wade first discovered the horse missing on Thursday when she went to check on the animal, only to find the gate wide open and a trail of muddy tracks leading away from the gate.

Wade suspects whoever stole the horse was monitoring the whereabouts of her family and studied their routine on the ranch.

The State Police and the ASACP aided Wade in searching for the animal after she reported the theft to both groups.

Wade bought the horse 10 years ago when a friend alerted her that a woman in Texas was getting rid of her ranch. "I always wanted a painted horse, so when I heard one was for sale I went to see him," Wade reported, "I just fell in love with him as soon as we met."

Wade's biggest fear is that Little Joe ends up at a slaughterhouse. She remains hopeful that with the public's help her horse will be returned safely.

"It is like someone tore my heart out, I can't sleep, all I do is come back to the field and pray that I will see him waiting for me, but he is not here," Wade said. "I just want him back, I just need to know what happened to my friend."